is set forth by Christ to be square and a perfect Cube the height as much as the breadth wâ—th all the excellencies set down by him Rev. 21. 22. It being mysterious we may not be too curious to inquire nor â—ash to determine though such things are there spoken of which are not on the other hand negligently to be overlookt as spoken to mans capacity yet this may be resolved upon That since such persons have then and there such happiness assigned to them God will make it every way suitable to such a condition But yet unto this glorious and happy Mansion which God prepared for that time for the raised Saints as he did wonderfully prepare a body for Christ when he became man even to that glorious Mansion the Scripture shews the Kings and Nations of the earth shall bring their glory and honour as Rev 21.24.26 probably not so much to add to it as to shew their affâ—ction towards it and the Owner of it And such help and comfort they may then bring as may be useful to the Nations that are saved walking in the Light of the new Jerusalem being in their bodies al ve as before to them it is probable there wi l be much good use made of such bounty of Kings and munficence of Princes and others in those times and Christ the great King much honoured by their Oblations c. Wherein it is probable the goodness of God may in such ways appear eminently in those times according to his many Prophesies and Promises to such purposes and the same God that hath appointed an eternity of Happiness hath likewise prepared a suitable happiness in that state for all sorts of his Saints then which experience will manifest though we cannot in all things now be resolved particularly God hath prepared that Jerusalem now above where are the spirits of just men made perfect and God will or hath prepared that City for them and others departed since Christs first to his second coming which shall then come down from him out of Heaven when their Bodies shall be reunited to their souls to remain with Christ in happiness in his Kingdom upon Earth and after that to all Eternity in the highest Heavens Object Another Objection may seem to be taken from Ezek. 16.55 56. c. When I bring again the Captivity of Sodom and her Daughters and the Captivity of Samaria and her Daughters then will I bring again the Captivity of thy Captives in the midst of thee which may seem an utter rejection of that people c. Answ That this Text or any other of the like nature is not to be understood of an utter final rejection of any of them let them be particularly considered First not of Samaria or the Israelites whose chief City it was for that in the appointed time of Gods mercy promised to them shall be again received and owned by him may from many Texts of Holy Scripture appear abundantly for those two Sticks of Israel and Judah shall be again united into one Kingdom as Ez k 37. Then will be fulfilled what the Apostle Paul foretels Rom. 11. that then all Israel shall be saved And secondly Sodom and her Daughters as well as Egypt and Assyria Esa 19.25 when it will be said Blessed be Egypt my people and Assyria the works of my Hands and Israel mine Inheritance Even Sodom it self may then have a part in that general Mercy at the great Restitution of all things though for its foul-sins now a stinking Lake in the mean time since then Mercy will be extended to all Nations to see the salvation of the God of Israel Esa 52.10 For all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God Therefore also Sodom and her Daughters and appears here so to be understood because joyned with the Israelites as before Egypt and Assyria were Es 19.25 to whom belong the Adoption and the Covenant and the promises as the Apostle Paul teacheth Rom. 9.4 to which purpose also read in this Chapter and consider ver 53 54 compared with and explained by ver 61.63 for as he spake of their return at the same time so toward the end of the Chapt. upon the foundation of his own everlasting Covenant he would give them to her for Daughters and at such a time as not only she should be ashamed for her former miscarriage but when he also would be pacified towards her for all she had done c. And although no mercy was to be expected to the Land of Judea or Jerusalem by their own Covenant which they had broken as is shewed ver 59. thou hast despised the Oath in breaking the Covenant wherefore God denies such mercies to be upon that foundation ver 61. Not saith he by thy Covenant but even upon that takes occasion to renew and confirm his own Covenant and that his everlasting Covenant for the comfort of the faithful then and of all times after to come in a glorious way of free grace formerly set down in the days of her youth and now again in this Chapt. repeated and confirmed as appears manifestly ver 60 61. to the end of the Chapt. in many full and forceable expressions if those verses be duly considered wherein the mercy of God reserved for them against those times is both largely display'd and strongly confirm'd which Covenant is yet also more fully explained and clearly distinguished by the Prophet Jer. 31 31 32 33 c. which likewise the Apostle Paul applyed in a more special manner to that people in his Epistle to the Hebrews though not excluding others Heb. 8. ver 8 9 10 11. according to what he had told the Gentils as a mistery as be calls it 〈◊〉 11.25.26 27. from the words of the Prophet Es 59.20 The 〈…〉 shall come to Sion and to them that turn from transgression in Jacob a like confirmation hereof we have again from the Prophet Ezekiel largely set down chap. 20.37.40 41 42 43 44 c. let all these Texts be serâ—ously considered to this puâ—pose wherein the riches of Gods free grace to that his ancient people after all their so great and so long wanderings from him are so largely displayed Quest But is not that which you call the New Jerusalem upon Earth to be meant of the highest Heavens Answ It is true that many have so understood it but again many othâ—rs that have taken pains in searching the intent of that and othet mystical portions of Scripture have been and are of a different judgment and that for many good and we ghty reasons as these following and the like 1. Because the last part of St. Iohns Prophesie Rev. 12.26 is said to be of things shortly to come to pass namely in their due order in the world and nothing by him there seen in Vision to be extended further then the worlds end when the measure of short or long time will utterly cease c. 2. The last Table of the
21. Moreover Abraham that looked for such a City having foundations is called by the Apostle the heir of the World Rom. 4.12 through the righteousness of Faith by which Faith saith the Apostle he received Isaac from the dead in a figure Heb. 11.19 and accordingly the Apostle seems to apply the divine efficacie of his faith in some resemblance to Gods raising up the dead and calling things that are not as though they were Rom. 4.7 and proceeds to illustrate the power of his faith that neither the deadness of his own body nor the deadness of Sarah's womb did hinder it in believing that he should have that promised Seed and so of the promised inheritance often sworn by God to Abraham Isaac and Jacob Abraham had not of it to set his foot on Acts 7. and that promise was looked for a farr of by him and others Heb. 11.13 and yet believed and embraced by them yea many others set down afterwards which obtained a good report by faith yet saith the Apostle obtained not the accomplishment of the promise v. 39 40. God having provided some better thing for us that they without us should not be made perfect to wit at the said Resurrection from the dead and in the said City which Abraham looked for which hath foundations v. 10. and that City prepared by God himself for the rest of the faithful v. 16. and v. 40 all which seem to point out the New Jerusalem state on earth at Christs second coming with many other great things to be accomplished in those times as we have shewed more particularly in a Tract on Gen. 3.15 and in our 4th Part Obser 31. and well may that condition be called an heavenly Countrey because it will be of an heavenly nature and in an excellent state and condition when there will be indeed an heaven upon earth when Christ will bind Satan and seal him up in the bottomless Pit that he shall not deceive the Nations for that space of a thousand years Rev. 20.3 7. and many wicked men be destroyed from the earth Rev. 11.18 and he will bring all his Saints asleep in him till then with him 1 Thes 4.14 and an innumerable company of Angels to attend upon him Psal 97 and all creatures shall bow the knee Phil. 2. to do him homage which are now in heaven or earth or under the earth whose name is above every name which seems excellently decyphered before us by his own spirit Rev. 5. after he had taken the book from the right hand of him that sat upon the Throne to loose the seals thereof the fulfilling of the contents of which will cause that wonderful praise by the 24 Elders and 4 Beasts or living Wights by Angels and all Creatures from v. 10. to the end and yet of that Countrey saith one it is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Countrey where their Fathers dwelt as in many Prophesies and Promises it is stiled c. And the things concerning that State seem therefore to be so strongly and often asserted by the Spirit of God Rev. 19.9 and 21.5 and 22.6 to shew that though many would be backward to believe them yet they should be not certainly fulfilled in the world in due time 15ly It is said to be measured as we have elsewhere noted and likewise many other Prophesies and Promises are applicable from the Old Testament to that said New Jerusalem State as the Spirit of Christ in respect of those forenamed hath directed and which may more largely be observed in our Prodromus Pag. 18 19 20 21. in the letter of Nov. 3 1663. 3ly And so we come to the 3d. way of confirmation of the New Jerusalem to come on earth namely from the Series and Order of the time in Scripture assigned for the setting up thereof in the world to wit upon the destruction of the Beast at Christs 2d coming whom saith the Apostle Christ will destroy with the appearance of his coming 2 Thes 2.8 unto which he also adjoyns his Kingdom 2 Tim. 4.1 at his appearance saith he and his Kingdom And to this purpose it is very observable that when God was about to destroy the Oâ—d Jerusalem for the greatness of the wickedness prevailing in it by the same Prophets whereby he denounced the destruction of the Old to the terrour of the wicked by the same also he foretold the setting up of the New for the comfort of the faithful wherein they in due time should have their shares as Es 29.19 Jer. 31.31 32 c. Ezek. 37. and these do not only speak of the deliverance of the Jews from Babylon after 70. years but of the great restauration of all Israel and Judah which they set forth with many peculiar Marks and Characters belonging to it as we observed from this Text Jer. 3.17 and from Es 60. and many other places But the Prophet Ezekiel in c. 37. of his Prophesie doth not only describe their deliverance to be wonderful like a raising of dry bones from the Grave and making them stand up in a great Army but also largely there also shews the uniting both Kingdoms of Israel and Judah into one under Christ the Great Messiah called there David of whose Seed he was according to the flesh and in whose Throne he is to sit so long as the Sun and Moon endure from the time of the raising up the Tabernacle of David that was fallen Acts 15 c. Yea this 37 of Ezekiel seems with the remainder of that book to the end to be as a comment or exposition of the main drift of divers of Daniels Visions respecting the latter times for as he by Visions as we said set forth how wonderfully God would raise and restore them c. 37. so in the two next chapters he largely by Prophesie fore-tells the stupendious destruction of their Potent Enemy Gog and his Multitudes with Magog which he specially declares twice shall be in the latter dayes c. 38. v. 8. and v. 16. with many expressions agreeing to their great Enemy the Turk and thereby God undertakes for the comfort of the faithful to remove him which is to be the great hinderer of their freedome And from thence in 9 chapters to the end he sets down his large Vision of the New Jerusalem and in the end declares the name thereof shall be Jehovah Shamma the Lord is there which is also by Scripture order to be set up when the Enemies are destroyed as Dan. 11.45 and Dan. 12.2 3 c. But Daniel in a more special way of Mercy from God to his faithful people from his time had for their more abundant consolation in divers Visions set down in order the times to pass over the Jews in their said Dispersions and the several Oppressors of them in order to be destroyed until their full deliverance come and this both more generally in 4 wicked Monarchies before the fift came that should destroy them c. 2. by
Kingdom on earth in that time of the uniting of Israelites and Gentiles in the grace of the gospel to come as Rom. 11. before named and the state of the said new Ierusalem when his rest shall be glorious as Esa 60.1 which by the context in Esa 11. both before and after the 10. v. may aboundantly appear But that which many such men seek chiefly to avoid is the yeilding of Christs Daviaical Kingdom here upon earth the doctrine whereof though in some parts of holy writ it be set down in a divinely mysticall manner yet the holy Scripture is plentiful for it and very punctual for the time when it shall appear and for many excellent and glorious things belonging to it if truly pious and dilgent search thereof be made as if that great Redeemer of his antient people beloved as the Apostle Paul saith for their Fathers sake would not come in his time appointed would not come to mount Sion to deliver them and others even to all such as shall turn away from transgression in Iacob as is promised Esa 59.20 when they shall look upon him when he appeareth whom they have pierced Zac. 12.10 and turn by true repentance to him from the iniquities of their fore fathers And in both these respects great scandal is given to the Iews for they know there is a strong entail of many great both spiritual and temporal mercies to their faithful fore-fathers and their posteritie in those times to come though for a time their sins withhold those mercies from them and that as they expect though haply not in that manner the son of David their Messiah will come to deliver them the sacred Scriptures give strong assurance and which time of their redemption seems to draw nigh as our Saviour teacheth Lu. 21.28 and that the Kingdom of God is nigh at hand v. 31. the signes whereof when they shall see he bids them there lift up their heads for then according to the prediction of the Angel to the blessed Virgin Luke 1.23 the Lord shall give to Christ the Throne of his Father David which is the same which our Saviour told his Disciples his Father had then as Dan. 7.13 14. appointed unto him even as he appointed unto them at the same time a Kingdom even that Kingdom that they may eat and drink at his table in his said Kingdom and sit upon Thrones judging the 12 Tribes of Israel Luke 22.29 30. which will be the only time for them to doe for afterward in heaven there will neither be such eating or drinking or judgeing or ruling over others or their cities as Luke 19.17 18. and it is to be observed those texts of Scripture speak of such Kingdom as was to come and therefore not to be understood of Christs spiritual Kingdom which he had both then and in all the times of the old Testament and as when Solomon the type of Christ in that particular sat upon the Throne of David 1 King 2.12.24 it could not be said he sat upon his Throne spiritually but personally in Ierusalem so neither in this respect can it be said that Christ of the seed of David according to the flesh shall then only spiritually but personally sit upon the Throne of David in the new Ierusalem which then as in the text shall be called the Throne of the Lord. Though he hath always as God had a spiritual Kingdom in the world but the sitting upon the Throne of David for the future belongs to him as man as the fruit of Davids Loyns according to the flesh Acts 2.30 which the Apostle Peter v. 35. shews should be when God makes his Foes his foot-stoole for as when Christ is frequently in the gospel called the Son of David we cannot in that sense say he is the Son of God so when he is said to sit on the Throne of David as Esa 9.6 we cannot in that sense say he shall sit upon the spiritual Throne of God for the spiritual Throne of God is in reference to spirituals But to fit upon the Throne of David as man will be to order it with judgement and justice as is foretold of him Esa 9.7 yea this said Throne of David which shall be given unto Christ as Mediator by his Father is so distinguished by himself as another from his Fathers Throne Rev. 3.21 To him that overcomes will I graunt to sit with me on my Throne even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father on his Throne Moreover the spiritual reign of Christ in the hearts of men is common to all the three Persons in the sacred Trinity but to sit upon the Throne of David as man is peculiar to Christ as Mediator as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God-man in one person so the spiritual reign of Christ is one thing but his sitting upon the Throne of David is another and from what hath been said they may fitly be distinguished in these respects following First God the Fathers Throne and Kingdom is eternal but Christs visible glorious Kingdom as Mediator is temporal only for a set time which will begin at Antichrists destruction Dan. 7.9 10 11. and at his own appearance 2 Tim. 4.1 and will end when he shall resign it back again to his Father as St. Paul expresly declares 1 Cor. 15.24 2dly God the Fathets is originally in or from himself but Christs Mediators visible glorious Kingdom in the world is given to him of the Father Dan. 7.14 And there was given to him Dominion Glory and a Kingdom that all People Nations and Languages should serve him Thirdly the Throne of God the Fathers Kingdom is in Heaven as our Saviour teacheth Rev. 3.21 but the Throne of his own Kingdom as Mediator God-man shall in that time be on the earth as in the text and People Nations and Languages shall then serve him as was last shewed and to make it evident it must be done on earth in the 27. v. of Dan. 7. it is said the Kingdom and Dominion and Greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven shall serve and obey him Fourthly This Temporal Kingdom for the thousand years Christ will resign back again to the Father but his spiritual Kingdom as God he never received nor will ever part from of which there will be no end So that hence it may appear for Christ to reign spiritually in the hearts of his people as God is a thing many ways distinct from his sitting upon the Throne of David as man in the time of his visible glorious Kingdom on earth to come Let these things therefore by all such persons be seriously considered that they be not sinfully found to be pleaders against Christs Interest in this respect for which the Scripture is both clear and plentiful as Rev. 20.4 5.10 Dan. 7. Ier. 3.17 with many others c. See the Forerunner page 47 48. and let them remember the legitimate confession of Christ is to confess all things that belong to
whose name is above every name for as those in heaven do it so shall those in earth and under the earth in their due time do it Phil. 2.9 10. and so in such a glorious condition will those new Heavens and new Earth then be that his Name will be sanctifyed his Kingdom will be come and his Will then be done on earth as it was before in heaven For Christ when he was upon earth taught not his Servants to pray all along to his coming for those things which shall never be and God hath not made so many promises and given forth so many prophesies of such things as never will be performed and fulfilled But then will be that great Sabbatisme of such holy refreshment from the presence of the Lord and rest which remains saith the Apostle for the people of God Heb. 4 9. when those promised mercies to the Fathers shall be fulfilled on earth that his people may serve him without fear of their enemies in holiness and righteousness before him all the dayes of their Life Luke 1.73 74. and as Rev. 22.3 now these promised mercies were to Abraham Isaac and Jacob not yet fulfilled but seen a far off Heb. 11.13 c. There are also sure mercies of David not yet fully accomplished 1 Sam. 7.15 16 c. that his House and his Kingdom should be estabâ—ished for ever before him and his Throne shall be established for ever which he there largely by Faith applyed and by grateful acknowledgement praised God for as if it had been performed and then Job and Esay will find the effect and fruit of their own Faith Job 14. Esa 46. and Daniel shall then obtain his promised Lot with all the holy Prophets and faithful servants of God in those times Oh how should our Faith be exercised in these things that with faithful Abraham we may rejoyce aforehand at the day of Christs visible Dominion as he did both at that and his Incarnation Heb. 11.13 c. And so we should proceed to a second Use of thankfulness for such great mercies now manifest to the Church of Christ from his Word and chiefly from him the faithful and true witness but because we have been somwhat large to that purpose upon a like occasion towards the end of a former Treatise on Gen. 3.15 we here wave that and only touch upon some hints of further improvement by way of admonition and exhortation and so leave them to be enlarged by Christians in their private meditations c. Vse 2. For admonition to two sorts of persons First to such as own these Doctrines of Christs Kingdom of visible power to come c. so much the more to be careful to make sure their interest first in Christs spiritual Kingdom of grace here in this present life and state of things before they look or hope for any part in his Kingd of visible power on earth at his coming or in Gods eternal Kingdom of glory ensuing upon it for grace and Gods spirit here is the earnest and evidence of all blessedness hereafter only Wise Virgins will be admitted into the Bride-chamber when the Bridegroom comes and such only will he receive to himself to make them inheritors of everlasting blessedness in the Kingdom of his Father for though all divine Scripture truth is written for our learning as the Apostle Paul teacheth yet all divine knowledge not being duly improved will aggravate the sin and misery of all formal professors thereof both in the whole of Christian religion or in any remarkable branch thereof much more if such knowledge be perverted contrarie to the holy just and good laws of Christs Kingdom of grace that teacheth his people to deny ungodly and worldly lusts and to live soberly righteously Godly in this present world Tit. 2.11 12. But for such as own these Doctrines are indeed faithful servants and subjects of their great Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to look upon all Doctrine respecting Christs Kingdom on earth as a great ingagement unto duty and thankfulness not only in word and outward profession but most especially to endeavour to manifest it in heart and conversation buth before himself and in the sight of men and that they may so labour the more to act thankfulness by walking so much the more Christianly and obediently to his Laws seeing by such Doctrine a greater engagement is laid upon them thereunto for as their expectations are greater than otherwise they could be from the evidence they have of their interest in Christs glorious Kingdom of power on earth to come by the redemption of their bodies and the union of them to their souls in that blessed condition appointed to the faithful in their order besides what others shall enjoy who then remain in their natural life that upon that account they study and labour to be more ready and forward to do such acceptable service for Christ as he assignes them unto though unpleasing to flesh and blood because it will be acceptable unto him and he requires it of them and it will be found no loss as some misapprehend but occasion of great rejoycing for those spirits of just men made perfect to be brought with Christ at his appearance and his Kingdom 2 Tim. 4.1 to attain to that desired Union with their bodies there to behold Christs glorie c. in that blessed condition above a thousand years sooner than the last resurrection as was manifest by that great exultation of the Representatives Rev. 5.10 as an addition to their spiritual joy and praise to the Lamb And say they we shall reign upon earth where they knew aforehand that they should personally enjoy in body and soul the blessed vision of Christ and all such happiness as is appointed for them in his visible Mediators Kingdom of power upon earth who will then be so admired of all his Saints as the Apostle Paul teacheth and glorifyed in them that believe 2 Thes 1.10 Vse 3. For Admonition to all real and faithful Christians that as yet own not these Doctrines of the Millennium which I confess till of late years I my self have often opposed as I shewed in the Irenicon to take heed and beware of slighting and over-looking so much divine truth as the fore-named and many other texts and portions of holy Scripture hold forth evidently concerning those things and to that end consider first some truths of that nature have been antiently received though the great Deceiver then stirred up some to cast unjust reproaches and false imputations upon the owners of them yea they have been owned both by antient Fathers and modern writers and the light and evidence of them is like to break forth more and more amongst faithful Christians as prejudices are removed and more Mysteries are accomplished and by Gods mercy greater discoveries made of what concerns his true Church and if diligent and impartial search were made of those Scriptures which concern these things but especially what Daniel
ΙΕΡΟ-ΜΕΤΡΟΠΟΛΙΣ OR The Holy the Great the Beloved NEW JERUSALEM a Shortly to come down from God out of Heaven b BEING The work of Gods own hands c whose form will be perfectly cubâ—cular in length breadth and height equal 12000 furlongs d having the glory of God or light as a stone most precious e prepared for the Lamb Wife or raised Saints f then to be made perfect in one g there to behold Christs glory in his Davidical Kingdome h of the thousand years reign with his Saints on Earth i from Antichrists last ruine to Satans last loosing k shortly then producing both the worlds destruction and his own perpetual torment with all the damned in Hell l From Scripture evidence abundantly made manifest both by clear Texts and necessary Consequence more especially comprised in 15 well approved reasons By William Sherwin Minister of the Gospel See a Rev. 21.10 20.9 b Rev. 21 2.10 c Heb. 11.10 d Rev. 21.16 e Rev. 21.11 f Rev. 19.7 8 9. compared with chap. 21.9.10 Heb. 11.16.40 g Jo. 17.21 22 23. h Jo. 17.24 Es 9.7 Rev. 1.32 33. i Eze. 48. last Rev 5.10 Rev. 20.4 k 1 Thes 2.8 2 Tim. 4.1 Rev. 19.11 to the end Rev. 20.2.7 l Rev. 20.8 9 10.15 c. Apoc. 3.21 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Esa 54 12 13. I will make thy Windows of Agats thy gates of Carbuncles and thy borders of pleasant stones See Rev. 21.18 19. Ver. 13. And all thy Children shall be taught of the Lord and great shall be the peace of thy Children So Rev. 22.1 2 3 4 5 6. LONDON Printed for Francis Smith and are to be sold at the Elephant and Castle without Temple-Bar Scripture evidence for the New Jerusalem on Earth to come The Doctrine whereof is First proved Secondly Improved Proved First From the explaining and opening of the Text. Jer. 3. from ver 14. to v. 20. 2ly From many Prophesies and Descriptions thereof in the Old and New Testament with Answers to some Objections and 13. Reasons set down why it shall be on Earth c. 3ly From the Series and Order of things set down in Daniel and explained more fully in the book of Revelation given to the beloved Apostle John Secondly improved First for Redargution of the errours of several sorts of persons against these truths Secondly For Admonition to three sorts of men First To such as own these Divine Doctrines to be mindful to improve them 2ly To such as really indeavour to improve them to be often mindful of and much to be affected with the greatness of their mercies and the greatness of engagement to duty thereby if duly considered 3ly To such as own them not to beware of slghting so much Divine and sacred Scripture truth of so great weight and concernment both as to holiness and happiness as many such persons little think of or consisider and most of all to take heed of opposing of them Thirdly To exhort all men to make use of the light of their understanding abilities to search into those Scriptures that concern these things that they may not be found fighters against any such truth of God Christian Reader VVHen the ancienter misrepresentations about the time of the the rising of Antichrist and some later pervertings are remove â— from the Doctrine of Christs Kingdome upon earth in the thousand years Rev. 20. as we shewed in our Preface to the Irenion it will appear to be a Divine and Scriptual part of the glorious Gospel of Christ and to be nothing else but an explication of some Articles of the Christian faith according to holy Scripture namely how and when Christ will come from the right hand of the Father to judg the quick and the dead at his next appearance and his Kingdome 2 Tim 4.1 and in what order he will fulfill the blessed Resurrection of the Just Luk. 14.14 or that first Resurrection Rev. 20.5 in the said thousand years with all those great things to be accomplished according to Scripture from his said appearance to the little space wherein Satan shall be loosed afterwards as namely the final destruction of Antichrist the national and miraculous calling of the Jews the Restitution of all things the New Heavens and the New Earth the restoring the Dominion over the Creatures and their freedome from the bondage of Corruption into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God Rom. 8.21 And in the said first blessed Resurrection of the Just the fulfilling of the prrmises to Abraham Jsaac and Jacob of the Promised Land to them and their Seed for ever The sure mercies of David how Christ shall rule on his Throne to the end of the world Esa 9.7 2 Sam. 7.16 25 26.29 with many other excellent things belonging to that time which cannot from Scripture be warrantably applyed to any other time as we have shewed in a Treatise on Gen. 3.15 then that wherein he will so eminently break the Serpents head and this is that coming the second time without sin unto Salvation Heb. 8.28 At the first he came to satisfie for sin and by reason of sin all the time from thence to his second coming his Servants have been liable to sufferings as members of his mystical body with him and for him after his example though not without Sin but then he will appear to Salvation to them to free them from such sufferings by destroying their Enemies and binding Satan and powerfully enabling his Servants to serve him Rev. 22.3 granting great and wonderful peace in the world to them in those times of refreshing from his own presence Acts 3.19 redeeming the bodies of the faithful from the prison and corruption of the Grave and after the thousand years will save the Camp of the Saints and the beloved City from the last attempt of Cog and Mag g upon Satans seducement and after Christs withdrawing in the time of that attempt he will descend as saith the Apostle with a shout and the voyce of an Arch-angel and with the Trump of God 1 Thes 4.17 though we know not whether he will be then out of the world in person or at least the raised Saints on earth shall not even at that time have the Vision of his glorious Person but to the Creatures discovery he will then descend at the last general Resurrection and Judgment when Heaven and Earth shall flee away before his face and no place be found for them as saith St. John Rev. 20.11 upon the fulfilling whereof he will perfect the Salvation of all his people by carying his whole mystical body with him into eternal blessedness in the highest Heavens no more to withdraw from them but that they shall ever thenceforth be with him the Lord 1 Thes 4.17 How then must he needs from his said second coming be glorified in his Saints and be then admired by all them that believe 2 Thes 1.10 and how ought the faith of the said things to chear and comfort their hearts against and under all
Children as an Hen gathers her Chickens under her wings c. But that by the Jerusalem here to be called the Throne of the Lord is meant the New Jerusalem to come down from God out of Heaven Rev. 21. may these three ways be abundantly confirmed First from the due weighing of this Text and context Secondly from many Prophesies and Descriptions set down both in the Old and New Testament which comport with this Prophesie concerning the New Jerusalem of which the Old was but a type Thirdly from the series and order of the times of the New Jerusalem set forth in holy Scriptures which this portion of Scripture hath three times reference unto ver 16 17 18. In those days at that time c. which together with the context contain many characters and marks to know that time from all others and joyntly witness each to others and because the matter of the context doth so necessarily relate to the time of fulfilling in the New Jerusalem state we shall consider them here together first he saith in those days ver 16. after he had before ver 14 set down what state they should then be in namely of Children then beloved as the Apostle Paul speaks of those times Rom. 11. for their Fathers sake and as appears in this Chapter ver 19. though they had backslidden before yet then returning at Gods call Turn ye back sliding Children c. Secondly God there lays them down a reason respecting himself and an effectual motive in regard of them then for I am Married unto you and that for ever in Truth Righteousness and Judgment as the Prophet Hosea further explains it chap. 2.19 shewing how that people then should call him Ishi my Husband ver 16. this Marriage-state of that people then with God and Christ should bring about the business for this the Text is very punctual and evident in reference to such a state of his people the Jews and as he had made ancient promises of such mercy then to them Deut. 30. to 11. and Deut. 32. ver 36. to 44. so he here declares he was and would be mindful of them and promiseth to take them one of a City and two of a Family or as a Rabbin reads it two of a Countrey or Province and bring them to Sion Again he will do it when he promiseth to give them pastors after his own heart ver 13. to feed them with knowledg and understanding such as he foretold of then by Daniel chap. 12.3 that should be indeed wise to turn many to Righteousness of Justification which belong in special to that time as we may see afterward and as Es 62.6 her Watchmen shall never hold their peace c. till he make Jerusalem a praise in the truth where also much more of the like nature is observable And though they shall be multiplyed and increased then yet he shews ver 16. they shall speak no more of the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord for that was but symbolical and conditional so that while the Ark was with them the Lord might be absent from them as to his gracious presence as somtimes he was and therefore saith they should not think or speak any more of such old Typical constitutions as the Ark was he minds them not only of his real but personal being with them as their Messiah in whom saith the Apostle Col. 2.9 the fulness of the Godhead dwelleth bodily Shewing ver 17. that Jerusalem then should be his Throne saying at that time they shall call Jerusalem the Throne of the Lord and all Nations shall be gathered to it to the name of the Lord for h s name will then be great in the whole world namely when the Kingdoms of the world are become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ not only by right as they ever were but also his as they will be then by their immediate use and visible possession and that the Nations might know then whither to repair to the name of the Lord where his glory will then shine out eminently he names the place again saying to Jerusalem And this is further confirmed ver 18. by several other mercies belonging to the same time first the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel those two sticks shall then be united together into one Kingdome under one King to them both as Exe. 3.7 and they shall both come together then out of the Land of the North as this Prophet speaketh again of the same time chap. 16.15 23.8 and they shall have that Land then given as an Inheritance unto their Fathers as the days of Heaven upon Earth as is Emphatically expressed Deut 11.21 Again he declares how all this good shall be brought about ver 19. namely Israel by vertue of their Adoption shall then have the promised possession of the Nations and of the pleasant land and as Children abide for ever in their Fathers house for that Adoption will be unalterable for thou saith he shalt call me Father and shalt not turn away from me for then their hearts shall be Circumcised as he also promiseth Deut. 30. So that then as an Husband he will be married inseperably to that people ver 14. As a King he will set his Throne in the mid'st of them ver 17. as a Father he will give them the sure Adoption and therewith the large inheritance of the Hosts of the Nations and their own pleasant land ver 19. which is further illustrated from their ready answer to his call return you back-sliding Children and I will heal your back-slidings whereunto they make a willing and obedient Answer Behold we come unto thee for thou art the Lord thy God and then proceeds to make a meek and gracious acknowledgment of their own and their fore-Fathers sin and unworthiness and that Salvation is only in and from the Lord from v. 12 to the end of the Chapter So that then will be supplyed to them Wisdom and Grace Preservation and Blessing Eminency and Security from the Lord and Unity amongst themselves in the enjoyment of all good conferred upon them as is from this portion of Scripture very observable which if duly considered may evidently appear to be a large and strong evidence of the happiness of that ancient inheritance of God the seed of Jacob which they shall have in those times upon Earth in the New Jerusalem-state when it shall be the Throne of the Lord and his Dominion so large in the world that all Nations shall come thither to do him homage or as it is otherwise expressed Es 2.2 All Nations shall flow unto it yet not with deceitful Spirits as men do some time to great Conquerors or Monarches in the world or after their own evil heart as the Jews formerly but as manifesting themselves to be the Sons of God by the Spirit of Adoption So that by these many particulars from the context it may appear that the Jerusalem spoken of
last times contained in chap. 20. leads us to the end of the thousand years and the finishing of the last Judgment of which the 2 following Chap. are an explication as is usual in that book first to set down things more generally and then more particularly to explain them as also is observable from that former Table of the times chap. 11. which also reacheth to the state of things on earth in the thousand years 3. St. John saw that holy City the New Jerusalem descending out of Heaven from God not ascending thither or being there 4. When that general great rejoycing was at the destruction of the Enemies chap. 19. to ver 9 for these 2 reasons first that the Lord God Omnipotent then Reigned 2ly That the Marriage of the Lamb then was come and that his Wife had made her self ready which is afterwards manifest to be above a thousand years before the last Resurrection and this Wife of the Lamb is after explained to be the New Jerusalem that St. Iohn saw descending out of Heaven from God there called the Bride the Lambs Wife Rev. 21.9 consisting of the blessed Saints then to inhabit it bodily in their order at the first Resurrection which is also in the following part of that chapt so gloriously decyphered and in Chap. 22. to v. 6. therefore it is thence evident that the said Jerusalem the Lambs Wife descended above a thousand years before the last Resurrection and Judgment and therefore all that time not to be in Heaven moreover it is said to be besieged by Gog and Magog at the end of the thousand years as follows in the next reason 5. The same holy City is said to be compassed about by Gog and Magog at the end of the thousand years Rev. 20.9 which could not be done if it was not then in the world and therefore the Vision thereof when it first descended which the Angel that had one of the 7 Vials then shewed to St. Iohn calling it the Bride the Lambs Wife and all the priviledges and excellencies thereof must needs belong to it whilst it is in the world all those many excellent things concerning it chap. 21 22. to v. 6. must needs belong to the state of Christs Church in those times on Earth as after will further appear all tending to set forth that one description of that holy City seen in the same Vision which was before said to be so encompassed with God and Magog with its priviledges and appurtenances as follow in both Chapters 6. It will be in that time when the Nations of them that are saved shall walk in the light of the said New Jerusalem which they will not do in the state of Heavenly perfection when no Nations will be in the world but all Saints will be perfect in one Jo. 17 23. in soul and body and the whole mystical body of Christ shall be completed in the members of it and all received into perfect glory and happiness 7. In the same verse the Kings of the Earth are said to bring their own glory and honour to it and therefore it must be in the time wherein they enjoy such honour and glory upon Earth ver 26. 8. Those Kings are there said also to bring the glory and honour of the Nations unto it in the same verse and therefore it must be in the time wherein such Nations have such Kings and such glory and honour to be brought unto it and these also were foretold Es 60. in many eminent expressions in many perticulars 9 It will be in a time measured by moneths when the Nations will also need healing and therefore the use of the leaves of the Tree of Life in the street of the City that bears fruit every moneth is said to be for the healing of the Nations chap. 22.2 and so before the end of the world c. 10. The Sun Moon and Candle at the same time will be useful to other places in the world when the Lambs supereminent light will so enlighten that holy City that there will be no need of any other Rev. 22 5. and Rev. 21.23 as was also foretold of the same times by the Prophet Esay chap. 24.23 Then shall the Moon be confounded and the Sun ashamed when the Lord of Hosts shall Reign in Mount Sion and in Jerusalem and before his Ancients gloriously So also Es 60.19 The Sun shall be no more thy light by day neither for brightness shall the Moon give light unto thee but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light and thy God thy glory 11. Upon the coming down of this New Jerusalem the Tabernacle of God is said to be with men and he to dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them and be their God Rev. 21 3. and was said before in c. 20.4 Christ should reign with his raised Sts. 1000. years and that on earth expresly say the representatives exulting greatly in it Rev. 5.10 12. Some of the former and ensuing promises are applyed by the spirit of God in this Book to the said new Jerusalem state as that of the new Heavens and the new Earth Isa 65.16 so applyed Rev. 21.5 and that the Kings and Nations of the earth shall bring their glory to it in that time Isa 60.11 and so applyed Rev. 21 24 26 c. 13. It is the place where the representatives Rev. 5.10 shall reign with Christ upon earth being that City that God prepared for the faithful Fore-Fathers Heb. 11. the last and all believers since their times to the resurrection of the just wherefore it seems to be of so great largeness as containing 12000. Furlongs which some reckon 500. Leagues and which is most wonderful as our late Annotators observe the height and length and breadth are equal as a perfect Cube who also reckon the Citie described by Ezek. to be so great as containing in compass about it 18000. measures or 4500. on each square Ezek. 48.16 14. The City that Abraham particularly looked for is said to have foundations whose maker and builder is God Heb. 11.10 and such is that that shall then come from God out of Heaven Rev. 21. having 12 foundations v. 14. of which the Psalmist seems prophetically to speak Psal 87.1 his foundation is in the holy Mountain and which Psalm is in many places applicable to those times of the new Jerusalem to come and these foundations may seem to difference it then from that which is now above where are the spirits of just men made perfect Heb. 12. called also Paradise and Abrahams bosom c. that when the Sts. come with Christ at the said Jerusalems coming down from God out of Heaven that their bodies may be raised united to their Souls at the first blessed resurrection such foundations may be suitable to their condition then having their bodies reunited to them and to that estate of the Church in the world described in Rev.
Christ amogst which the sitting on the Throne of David as man will be one 1 Iohn 4.2 3. And as for the raising of the dead Saints at the Resurrection of the Just as it is called Luke 14.14 or the blessed first Resurrection above a thousand years before the rest of the dead shall be raised Rev. 20.5 they being such as will be counted worthy of that world called the world to come Heb. 2.5 where those Children of the Resurrection as our Saviour speaketh Luke 20.35 36. shall be as the Angels in Heaven since at his appearance and coming into the world Christ will bring his Saints with him and such as sleep in Jesus with him 1 Thes 3. ult 4.14 Zac. 14.5 to the end that being raised from the dead he may reward them Rev. 11.11 22.12 or recompence them at the said Resurrection of the Just Luke 14. when they shall behold the glory of Christ which the Father hath given him as Mediator Iohn 17.24 when his Disciples shall sit upon twelve Thrones judgeing the twelve Tribes of Israel Luke 22.30 and his faithful servants according to the improvement of their Talents shall rule over so many Cities Luke 19.17.19 Psal 49.14 and shall have power over the Nations Rev. 2.26 Psal 45.6 their bodies being then redeemed from the prison and Corruption of the grave Rom. 8.23 and their former mortal bodies shall then be powerfully raised by the same spirit of him that raised up Christ from the dead Rom. 8.11 that so then such as suffer for Christ in the body may reign with Christ in his Mediators Kingdom in their bodies 2 Tim. 2.12 and those raised bodies when he shall appear being like him shall see him as he is 1 Iohn 3.2 when the Tabernacle of God shall be with men and he be with them in the new Ierusalem come down from God out of Heaven Rev. 21.3.10 in that City whose name shall be Iehovah Shamma the Lord is there Ezek. 40. ult and which shall then be called the Throne of of the Lord as in the text that City prepared for the faithful fore-fathers yet so as without the faithful that died since Christs first to his second coming they shall not be made perfect Heb. 11.40 or perfect in one as our Saviour prayed Iohn 17.23 and declares his will in the presence of his Father and before his Disciples that such as were given him should then be with him to behold his glory which his Father had given him v. 24. who will then be that spiritual and mystical Bride the Lambs Wife Rev. 21.9 in the time of his thousand years reign Rev. 20.4 when as saith the Apostle Paul Christ must reign till he hath put all his enemies under his feet 1 Cor. 15.25 even till he deliver up the Kingdom to God the Father having put down all rule and all authority and power that stood in his way as in the verse before the last enemy Death being destroyed v. 26. Many of these texts of holy Scripture our blessed Saviour by his book of Revelation hath given much evident light unto as whosoever carefully compares them and duly weighes them with humble and faithful seeking the guidance of his spirit may hopefully find till which time many of these and divers others were darkly delivered have not otherwise so clear and fit exposition given of them as that they will be fulfilled at that time of the restitution of all things when the times of refreshing shall come for his people from the presence of the Lord when God will send Jesus whom the Heavens must contain till then Acts 3.19 20 21. in which times the many great things are to be accomplished which we formerly set down on Gen. 3.15 and Christs explication of them will at last be most certainly found the best and the mean time let it be observed that the Doctrine of the Resurrection was a long time but darkly set down in Scripture and but by degrees were the mysteries thereof revealed 1 Cor. 15.51 52. Rom. 8.11 as we have else where observed and as Mr. Mede saith that the Prophets in the old Testament except Daniel spake darkly or promiscuously of the first and second coming of Christ so we may say of the whole Scriptures speaking of the first and second bodily Resurrections till Christ explained them and chiefly in Rom. 20. yet by the guidance of that many others fall in with it See more in the Appendix after the Irenicon page 97. to 109. for I have in a manner but touched upon these texts of Scripture because I study brevity and have spoken there more largely of the first bodily Resurrection and because the Scriptures carry with them so great evidence in their consent one with another and bearing witness in their order to the same truth which serious Christians may in their Meditations more inlarge and improve that being rightly from the word informed of these things and the like they may both frame their prayers make other improvements thereof accordingly to help forwards Gods work in the fulfilling of some of them having such sure and comfortable foundations from the Word to raise up their affection to such purpose and especially in those latter dayes when their fulfilling approacheth near as may be observed from the fulfilling of so many Prophesies already and for the accomplishing of those that remain tends in a special manner that prayer at the end of these Visions with an even so as if it had been said that these great things in the said thousand years of Christs reign may be fulfilled Rev. 22.20 Even so Come Lord Jesus And that happy estate of Christs Church in that time of his said reign upon earth seems to be the main drift and scope of the three first petitions of the Lords Prayer which will then have their greatest fulfilling on earth as they are now fulfilled in Heaven when Satan shall be bound and sealed up in the bottomless pit from deceiving the Nations for that thousand years Rev. 20. and wicked men destroyed that destroyed the earth Rev. 11.18 the blessed and holy Saints raised from the dead at the first resurrection Rev. 20. and the holy Angels be Christs attendants in Christs Kingdom as the Courtiers of their most glorious King Heb. 1.6 Psal 97. where also his terrible coming into the world then is decyphered eminently with the joy of his people thereupon and that which will make it an Heaven indeed will be the Tabernacle of God will then be with men c. and the Lamb will be the visible light of that City and the living waters of divine grace will flow so abundantly from the Throne of God and the Lamb c. with many other heavenly excellencies of that state Rev. 21. 22. but that this may yet further appear to be then on earth all other inferiour Creatures must then also do their homage to their heavenly King by bowing the knee or yeilding their subjection to him